Mike!!! Thank you. You are always so supportive and inspiring--even when I am falling on my face from muscle failure! Hahaha

Well said, Chera! You touched on three important points: 1. Rest/recovery is a crucial aspect of training that is often overlooked. Training is cyclical: train, train, rest…train, rest…train, train, rest and so on. Rest/recovery is just as important as the training and is in fact part of your training. Neglect recovery and your performance will suffer. 2. Listen to your coaches and trainers. They’re on your side and are your greatest cheerleaders. They’ve already been down the road your traveling, know what works, and have your best interest at heart. 3. Balance your life. Your state of mind is crucial to your performance and you can’t perform well if you’re suffering with an emotional/psychological conflict. While you maintain your training and passion for running, keep first things first. When you do, your training will always be a joy and you will compete like a champion – focused and driven. Go Chera!